Japanese Instant Cup Noodles with Sticky “Mochi” Rice Cake

Have you ever had or heard of the traditional Japanese rice cake “Mochi (餅)”? Mochi is the sticky plain rice cake made by pounding glutinous rice and used as a main ingredient in various Japanese dishes and sweets.

You may have had Japanese instant cup noodles before. Actually, there are some instant noodles with Mochi rice cake being sold in Japan. The Mochi is usually individually packed in a plastic packet and comes with the container.

Although the instant noodle soups with Mochi rice cake, Mochi Ramen and Chikara Udon are being sold in Japan, I haven’t heard that instant buckwheat soba noodles with Mochi are released yet. As far as I know, there don’t exist instant soba with Mochi.

Of all Japanese instant cup noodles with Mochi, “Maruchan Shiroi Chikara Mochi Udon” is one of the most popular items.

The rich soy-sauce-based soup broth matches perfectly with Udon noodles and Mochi rice cake, and you can enjoy the difference in texture between the 2 Japanese comfort foods, Udon and Mochi, with this product.

The Mochi Ramen instant noodle soup cup I had today

Actually, today I had a Japanese Mochi Ramen instant noodle cup, so let me introduce the basic way to make instant cup noodles with Mochi. Here are the instructions with images.

How to make Mochi Ramen instant noodles

1. Peel off the paper lid about halfway and take all packets out from the container

2. Put Mochi rice cake and toppings in the cup

3. Pour boiling hot water into the cup up to the inside line of the container

4. Place the packet of liquid soup base on the lid and let it warm until the waiting time (usually 4 to 5 minutes) passes

5. 4 to 5 minutes later, remove the paper lid and add the liquid soup base to the cup. Stir all the ingredients well and enjoy!

Conclusion: Mochi Ramen instant noodles

At present, it seems to be difficult to obtain Mochi Ramen instant noodles outside of Japan. However, if you prepare instant ramen and Mochi rice cake (Amzon.com) separately, you can easily make the Japanese-style ramen. A simple way: Bake Mochi rice cake first, then make instant ramen and add Mochi. I think Mochi rice cake matches best with light soy-sauce-based soup broth, so I recommend preparing instant ramen with a light soy sauce flavor, if you are interested in trying this method.